The Rev. Canon Kirk Stevan Smith, 53, rector of St. James’ Church, Los Angeles, was elected on the second ballot to succeed the Rt. Rev. Robert R. Shahan as Bishop of Arizona. The election took place during the convention of the Diocese of Arizona at All Saints’, Phoenix.

Canon Smith is considered to be the most theologically inclusive among the four official candidates. Other candidates put forward by the nominating committee were: the Rev. Christopher Brdlik, rector of Calvary Church, Summit, N.J.; the Rev. Jonathon Coffey, rector of St. Anthony in the Desert, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and, the Rev. Carol Hull, rector of St. George’s, Dayton, Ohio. A fifth candidate, the Rev. Michael Lessard, priest-in-charge of St. Luke’s at the Mountain, Phoenix, who did not support the sexuality resolution, was nominated from the floor and received less than 5 percent of the total vote.